This document outlines the procedural steps in a jury trial. It shows the sequence of possible plaintiff and defendant motions before trial regarding issues of law, such as a demurrer or motion for summary judgment. It then illustrates the order of events during the trial, such as each side presenting their case, jury instructions, and the jury delivering a verdict. The final section depicts how either side could appeal rulings of the trial judge or the jury verdict and the possible outcomes of appeals regarding issues of law or requiring a new trial.

1. Plaintiff’s (Π) motions Defendant’s (Δ) motionsPre-trialFilingsandDiscovery:
Matteroflaw
Complaint Demurrer Granted
Denied
Motion for
summary
judgment
Motion for
summary
judgment
Answer
Denied
Motion for
non-suit
Granted
Denied
Motion for
directed
verdict
Jury instructions
JURY VERDICT
Denied
Motion for
JNOV
Appeal trial
judge’s rulings
(e.g., evidence,
motion for directed
verdict, jury
instructions)
Jury verdict
for Π
Granted
Denied
Granted
Denied
Granted
Appeal trial
judge’s rulings
(e.g., evidence,
jury instructions)
Reverse
Reverse
Reverse
Procedure in a JURY TRIAL
Jury verdict
for Δ
Granted
Judgment
for Δ
Affirm
Appeal
JNOV for
Δ
Affirm Affirm
Judgment
for Δ
Judgment
for Δ
Judgment
for Δ
New trial
Judgment
for Δ
Judgment
for Π
Judgment
for Π
Complaint
dismissed
Remand to trial
court to enter
judgment for Π
Order judgment for Δ
as matter of law
OR New trial
Trial:Π’scase
Matteroflaw
Trial:Δ’scase
Matteroflaw
Trial:Juryverdict
Matteroffact
APPEAL
Matteroflaw
Torts - Prof. Silver
Spring 2008, TA D. Scopelliti